Hovhaness Symphony for Metal Orchestra (Sym. No. 7)

Hovhaness's ability to write functional music befitting specific occasions (known as Gebrauchmusik) is nowhere more apparent than in Symphony No.17. Symphony for Metal Orchestra was commissioned for performance at a metallurgical convention and is appropriately scored for metallic instruments only, in the unique combination of 6 flutes, 3 trombones & metallic percussion (5 players). Its four movements span 23 minutes. The year prior to this symphony's composition, Hovhaness had studied Gagaku music in Japan and Korea, which he described as "the earliest orchestral music we know, it came from China and Korea in the 700s". Here, the spirit of this early music is suggested by the trombones playing with tuned percussion. However, the most striking sonorities Hovhaness achieves with this ensemble are probably the dense flute clusters, where the 6 flutes function effectively as one instrument for much of the time. Here they are cleverly imitating the sound of the Sho, a sort of Japanese mouth organ, which Hovhaness had learned to play in 1962 when studying with native musicians.

The work contains many canons at the unison, a Hovhaness trademark of the 1960s. Primarily because of the scoring, the overall mood of the work is dark and foreboding.

Excellent recording available: Koch Classics, with other Hovhaness works.

Over the next few months, I will continue listing a large number of scores for orchestra, string orchestra, wind band, and chamber ensembles that I collected over my 40-year conducting career. I will also be listing most of the (700+) books on music and musicians. If you are looking for something in particular, it is possible that I have it. Message me with a request, and it it is in my collection, I will add it to my store.

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